As some of you may have seen during the February 25th news broadcast on WOAI, the Lone Star State is ranked as the 15th most dangerous state for rape and sexual assault in the U.S.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network — known commonly as RAINN — every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted and every nine minutes that victim is a child. Additional statistics show 82% are under the age of 18 and female, and most cases are never reported.
Texas, according to FBI crime statistics, has a rate of 55.2 rapes and sexual assaults per 100,000 people. This is far lower than the most dangerous state, Alaska, which has a rate of 161.6 per 100,000. However, San Antonio has been on an upward trend while the number of cases in the state has declined.
Our provocateur, Joyce Collins, has first-hand knowledge about these horrific crimes as she is an incest survivor. Her trauma of sexual abuse began before she could speak and continued well into adolescence. Her psyche coped with this trauma by splitting in two – a child who experienced every moment of the abuse and another child who knew nothing of it. Neither knew the other existed until her repressed memories surfaced at the age of 37 - some twenty years after the abuse ended.
Joyce has not only learned to thrive, but as a life coach she specializes in empowering other women who were sexually abused as children to become confident women who love themselves and lead fulfilling lives.
Register today, and join us for this straightforward conversation on this important topic that continues taint our community.
www.sawomenschamber.org